Boxing Day travel deals across Canada

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If you’re thinking about a shopping spree this winter, there’s no better time to score deep discounts than Boxing Day. If you’re on a budget or looking to score some bargains, consider some of the great Boxing Day travel deals you can find on a winter visit to Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver.

Like Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the U.S., Boxing Day is a major shopping event in Canada. If you plan to travel to these cities, book a nice hotel or cozy vacation rental for a few days so you can shop till you drop as well as take advantage of some of the worthwhile attractions these major Canadian cities have to offer. The potential to score a bargain is high, especially if you’re patient and have some ideas in advance of what you want to focus your deal-finding energy on.

Whether you’re travelling specifically for Boxing Day deals, or just happen to find yourself in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver on Boxing Day, read on for our best tips on where to shop and what else to put on your travel agenda while you’re in town. Once you’ve figured out where you want to score some sales, know that you can get great deals on flights to wherever you want to go, every day at Cheapflights.ca.

Toronto Boxing Day deals

Toronto, image courtesy Pixabay.com

The majority of the big stores, malls and shopping areas in and around Toronto get into the Boxing Day spirit by offering discounts on everything from clothes and accessories, to housewares, electronics and more. Take advantage of Boxing Day travel deals and then scout out specials at some of the city’s best malls, including the Eaton Centre (conveniently located right downtown), Yorkdale Mall (for higher-end shops and also easily accessible by subway), and Sherway Gardens (which recently underwent a massive expansion). If you’d rather stay out of malls or supplement mall time with some outdoor shopping, consider exploring some of Toronto’s more popular shopping neighbourhoods like Yorkville (for luxury brands and designer duds), West Queen West (for unique items and independent boutiques), Leslieville, the Annex, Yonge & Eglington and Ossington.

When you’re not shopping until you drop (or you’re looking for a few things to do on a return visit to Toronto), you have lots of options. See and experience Toronto’s Chinatown, the second largest in North America, and segue into nearby Kensington Market, which is filled with vintage shops, gourmet food stores (not all of which will be open on Boxing Day) and cafes and restaurants. Anyone preferring to stay indoors can make their way to the Art Gallery of Ontario or the Royal Ontario Museum for a dose of culture. It’s also always worthwhile exploring Toronto’s historic Distillery District with its cobbled streets and Victorian-era architecture or going skating at Nathan Philips Square (skates available for rent if you don’t have your own).

Boxing Day deals in Montreal

Montreal, image courtesy Pixabay.com

Boxing Day is a special event in Montreal. Many bars host an assortment of events and parties and it’s also a time when virtually every Montreal business lowers their prices. After booking one of many Boxing Day travel deals to Montreal and settling in for some shopping and sightseeing, try one of the specials at an authentic French bistro as a warmup to your day of deal-hunting. Start with the Montreal Eaton Centre, which is home to 175 stores over five levels. You’ll also want to search out Boxing Day deals along rue Sherbrooke (a major high-end shopping street) and rue Ste-Catherine, Montreal’s main shopping artery (which is also where you’ll find the Eaton Centre). Montreal can be downright frigid in the winter, so if you’d rather avoid the cold, try the Underground City, which links metro stations to several shopping plazas for over 32 kilometres (about 20 miles).

For shopping opportunities, as well as some of the city’s best sightseeing, stroll through Old Montreal and the Old Port, which can feel like taking a step back in time as you explore the cobbled streets, historic architecture and picturesque squares. Saint-Paul Street in particular is where you’ll find many art galleries, independent boutiques, made-in-Montreal items, cafes, bars and restaurants. If you need some serious post-shopping relaxation, consider the ultra-soothing water circuit at Bota Bota, a unique floating spa in Old Montreal. Here you’ll find a soothing water circuit over five decks which house two saunas (with scenic views onto the river and the Old Port), a eucalyptus steam bath, outdoor whirlpool baths, cold showers and baths and relaxation areas.

Need some more incentive to scour Montreal for Boxing Day deals, or just plan a visit in general? You won’t be bored if you book a flight. Tour the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, head to Mount Royal to do some outdoor skating at Beaver Lake or some snow tubing, check out some of Montreal’s famous public markets like Atwater Market or the foodie mecca that is Jean-Talon Market.

Vancouver Boxing Day deals

Vancouver, image via Pixabay.com

In Vancouver, Boxing Day is a citywide sale event. The biggest deals of the year can be found in name-brand stores on items such as toys, designer duds, furniture, appliances and electronics. In the downtown area, Pacific Centre Mall and Robson Street are the best places to find remarkable bargains. In addition, you’ll want to check out Alberni Street for high-end shops, South Granville and Metropolis at Metrotown, the largest shopping centre in British Columbia (with close to 400 shops and services). Just note that the mall is located about 20 minutes outside of downtown Vancouver in Burnaby, but easily accessible by SkyTrain (it has its own SkyTrain stop). Other malls you might want to add to your Boxing Day shopping list include Oakridge Centre Mall and Richmond Centre Mall.

Take a break from bargain-hunting with a visit to Gastown, which offers both good shopping opportunities and some great things to do in terms of art galleries, cafes and bars. You can also scope out some amazing art at Vancouver Art Gallery, explore the third-largest Chinatown in North America (and fill up on dim sum while you’re there), browse the covered walkways of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (named World’s Top City Garden by National Geographic), or take part in some winter activities like skating or skiing at Grouse Mountain.

Jessica Padykula is a Toronto-based writer and editor who regularly covers travel and lifestyle trends. When she’s not writing or researching a story she can be found planning trips to places near and far in a never-ending quest to travel the world.